An Open Love Letter to Biologique Recherche's P50 1970

For years, I was the biggest toner skeptic you'd ever meet. "Glorified water," I'd scoff, rolling my eyes whenever someone recommended adding a toner to my skin-care routine. I saw them as unnecessary steps designed to empty our wallets, offering nothing that a good cleanser and moisturizer couldn't accomplish. Every toner I'd tried left my skin feeling stripped, irritated, or completely unchanged – just another bottle cluttering my bathroom counter.

Then came Biologique Recherche's P50 1970. From the first application — despite its infamous vinegar-like scent, which had me questioning all my life choices — I knew this was different. The telling tingle, the immediate clarity in my complexion, and the way my other products suddenly seemed to work better told me this wasn't your average toner — this was skin-care sorcery.

Within weeks, my skin transformed completely. The stubborn congestion that had been my constant companion? Vanished. The uneven texture that made makeup application a daily struggle? Smoothed away. P50 1970 wasn't just changing my skin; it was changing my entire perspective on what a toner could be.

The magic lay in its blend of ingredients – phenol (yes, that controversial ingredient that made it so special), salicylic acid, lactic acid, and niacinamide working together to get your skin in check. It was like having a professional facial in a bottle, delivering results that made its eye-watering price tag seem completely justified.

For years, this miracle worker has been my skin's best friend, my desert island product, the one constant in an ever-changing skin-care routine. Which is why I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach when the brand announced it was being discontinued.

While newer P50 formulations will continue to exist, there will never be quite anything like the original 1970 version.

As I carefully ration my remaining bottle (while simultaneously plotting how many backup bottles I can reasonably justify hoarding), I'm grateful for how this one product completely transformed my skin-care philosophy. Thank you, P50 1970, for proving this former toner skeptic gloriously, magnificently wrong.

Stixx Mathews is a New York City-based freelance beauty writer with 11 years of experience who is passionate about telling stories that merge beauty and pop culture. He enjoys sharing his expert insights about the latest trends and must-have products, with a particular focus on lipstick and fragrance.